Case prep

[Jal5]

Any thoughts on the condition of these 38 spl cases? the ring marks puzzle me on both brass and nickel. these are range pickups.
Do any of them look bulging near the bottom?

Until I gain more experience I will have lots of questions!

Thanks
Joe

[wncchester]

The cannulures on the top portion of cases 2 and 5 are of a type that was once commonly done to pistol ammo to provide a positive stop for the bullet bases.  Worked too, IF the bullet was actually seated to that point!  The rest of them are purely cosmetic, aka the "cool" factor.

[woodchukhntr]

If you mean the area just above the rim and below the cannelures, it is the area that the sizing die does not resizetouch.  The cartridge case is thicker in that area and does not expand as much as the thinner area above it.  I have never had a problem with chambering, although I have experienced case separations at the top of this area in maximum-loaded .357 mag. cases that were resized too many times.

[Jal5]

So I can assume those cannelures are immaterial to my purpose in reloading the cases? And just proceed normally to reload them?
I thought the cases had thicker material at that point just above the rim too but was unsure why that occurred. Thanks for verification of it. do you think they are usable for light to moderate 38 spl loads?

Joe

[Czech_too]

The 4th one from the left, is that corrosion at the case mouth and above the first/upper cannelure?  Other than that, I'd say your good to go, I'd use em.

Brian, in Ohio

[Jal5]

Brian- yes that one is already pitched. Thanks.
Joe

[woodchukhntr]

I agree with Czech_too .  I'd have no problem with loading those cases with any level loads except +P.

[Jal5]

Thanks guys! This is what makes this forum invaluable for us new guys to learn from your experience.

Joe

[bilmac]

Kind of hard to tell from a picture, but they all look normal to me. What usually happens when 38s go bad is a little split at the case mouth running up and down the case. These aren't really dangerous, but they say that they destroy accuracy. This is the main thing I look for when I inspect my cases. Rarely a case will split lengthwise only a much longer split than the little nicks at the mouth. I suppose these could be considered dangerous, but they have never done any harm in my guns.

I have never seen a 38 case separate at the head like rifle cases can.

[Steve P]

Only thing I spotted in quick examination of the photo is the sizing marks on the left nickel brass.  Likely a dirty carbide insert in the die or lack of lube if using regular dies.

Steve

[Jal5]

thanks Steve. Hard to say since those were all either purchased used or traded . I know the ones I resized came out OK with my carbide dies.

[buck460XVR]

Current production WWB .44 magnums come with the ring. Usually by the time the brass has been sized and fired a coupla times it's gone.

Because of this, I'd tend to think that brass then is only once fired.